2009-10 Canes Country Exit Analysis: Tom Kostopoulos
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 24, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in 2009-10 Exit Analysis
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"I’m not the most skilled guy so I have to work hard everyday and every shift." - Tom Kostopoulos in conversation with Canes Country's Bob Wage in April.
It's been just over a year since Hurricanes fans learned that gritty right wing Tom Kostopoulos would be joining the team, signed to a three-year contract last July as a free agent, after playing two years with the Montreal Canadiens and the Kings prior to that. The N&O quoted GM Jim Rutherford the day after the signing on his expectations:
"He’s a tenacious player. He’s Chad LaRose — not as good a skater but bigger. He has that kind of energy. He’ll fit in well."
After the jump, let's focus on Kostopoulos' season to find out if he performed as advertised. Read through before grading him on his contributions to the team during the season
Back in early January, when the team's relentless cycle of injuries would not end, Coach Paul Maurice was scrambling daily to assemble twelve healthy forwards each game. Kostopoulos saw his ice time increase, as the recap of the Canes 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators explains:
"Tom has built and gotten stronger and more physical and, with Cole and Ruutu out, you lose some of that size up front, and he becomes a more valuable player for us," coach Paul Maurice said of Kostopoulos, who has three goals in the first 10 days of January.
Take a look at this 2-on-1 goal (with Brandon Sutter) that he scored that night to tie up the game at 1-1:
Kostopoulos is the only player for the Hurricanes who played a full 82 games. The ONLY one. And he didn't do it by "playing cautious" or avoiding contact. At his best, he was indeed all about banging bodies and hustle.
The Good: A couple months ago I selected Kostopoulos as my nominee for the Canes Country "Selke Award" as the teams best defensive forward. Season phenom Brandon Sutter won in a landslide. However the lead photo at the top seems a good illustration of my point, as he battles 6 foot 4 inch , 257-pound crease-monster Dustin Byfuglien, while 6-5 Dman Andrew Alberts is seemingly out of the play. Kostopoulos is listed as 6-foot zero and 201 pounds (and is 31 years old). Canadian Chutzpah personified right there. I also would like to know which fourth line center he is covering for there in front of Cam Ward? That's sure not the conventional workspace of a fourth line right wing.
Here's how I made my case in April and it works just as well today:
For the season,Kostopoulos lead the Hurricanes in Penalty Kill Time on Ice, with 53 minutes more than Brandon Sutter, and averaging more than 2 minutes per game. He lead the team in plus/minus at +4. He put up the most hits among forwards and blocked the most shots. The MOST. And those 2 short-handed goals plus an assist on Cullen's shortie? Also the top-of the-list for Short-handed scoring. Sure he took some penalties himself - including the ten fighting majors - were those good or bad for the team's efforts to win? For the most part, I'd say they were okay. (And he had one less minor penalty than Eric Staal.)
The Bad: If we began the season expecting that Kostopoulos would be putting pucks in the net, then he definitely didn't deliver. Looking at the points-per-game stats for the team, he was ranked 18th overall, with only .26 PPG. That's less than "just-close-my-eyes-and shoot" Tim Gleason (.31ppg), and comparable to Rod Brind`Amour (.24ppg) during this -26 plus/minus season (and who garnered his fair share of criticism for his lack of production..ahem), and stay-at-home rookie defenseman Brett Carson (.22ppg). Among Carolina's forwards, only fellow fourth liners Stephane Yelle and Patrick Dwyer lagged much behind Kostopoulos in this category. Can we overlook this hole in his game? After all, it is consistent with the most traditional of roles for a team's fourth line. In fact, Kostopoulos'.26ppg is way better than say, Craig Adams, fourth line RW for the Penguins, whose 0-10-10 over 82 games gave him a ppg stat of only .16. Does TK's team-leading plus/minus of +4 on the season mitigate the lack of production?
The Money: Kostopoulos' three year contract is clearly at the very low end of the NHL payscale. In 2009-10 he was paid $700,000. Next season that jumps to $950,000, and finally up to $1.1mil in 2011-12.
With all of the above in mind, it's time to give the man his grade. And then I would like to hear your thoughts on how best Maurice should use TK next season. Is he forever "only" a fourth line player and PK specialist? Fits with his paycheck and his self-described style of play. Could he take the role of a veteran strong ("power" seems a little heavy of an adjective) forward, battling on the boards, crashing the net, and even easing the pressure on some of our young centers who may not have mastered NHL-level demands in their own end? (eg Riley Nash or Zac Dalpe).
To see the previous 2009-10 Exit Analyses click here.
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Definitely a glue-guy for the bottom 6 forwards — solid defender, gritty, and king of the goals scored while falling down and sliding into the boards behind the net. The Canes’ young forwards could learn a lot from TKO about work ethic this year. I can see him getting some 3rd-line minutes to add some physicality to what should be a young line.
Good story on K-Stop
while he very well may have his “detractors” but for what we gives and gave, the canes over all got the best bargin around, and the funny thing is,the man don’t play that way, i see it in his face and he is putting out the effrots as if the game he is in is for the cup! now and yes he is human and just as flawed as one of us here, but this fan has and will give the man his due with all due respect! at least he hasn’t been a half step behind as sady other canes players were…even during “the slump” KStpo worked as hard if not harder than many did…but that’s just my opinion…and yes KStop can be the glue that will solidfiy that 4th line…and wouldn’t be outstanding if during this coming season that 4th line would out hustle,work and score say that of the 3rd …hehehe…man that would be awesome !! ge i had better cut back on the caffinated coffee this morning…hehehe thanks again for letting me have my say…
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Went with a B. It was a hard choice. TKO did what he was brought in to do and what he’s paid for. Typically I’d say met expectations is a C. That said, when you lead the team in +/- you get rounded up. Call it grade inflation. Also, maybe meeting expectations all year long is in fact a success given how poor the team was early on.
As for future roles, I could see him getting third line minutes when/if Cole is traded. He’s a cheap alternative. Only problem is the only players I can see taking the fourth line minutes and getting much out of it would be Osala or Jared Staal. Any of the other young kids would be mis-used in that role. I also can’t see the point of signing another fourth line type guy. Does a team really need two TKO’s assuming it’s not someone lining up on the opposite wing? I would say no.
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
What a beauty
that 2-on-1 goal was. I was hoping we’d see that highlight on TK’s analysis! Love it.
Barry Melrose Rocks: Hockey and mullets. What else is there?
this is off the topic but im goin to charlotte next week does anyone know if checkers merchandise is available
by massivecaniacarrest on Jul 24, 2010 9:13 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I believe it will be August but you can pre-order a custom jersey online now…?
Twitter @HMof2
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 24, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Almost now.
July 26th is the day listed on the website for Checkers Jersey pre-orders to be taken.
Have had my eye on the Jersey 3 Black with Checker Bear holding hurricane warning flag in mouth, counting down the days :)
But will you customize or just go with a blank?
Twitter @HMof2
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 24, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of Jersey's
We will order mine on line will add Dodge’s name & number !! And when i can get him to sugn it I’ll have it framed too just like the one i got with Rosies name & number!! my wife said it will be ab early Birthday present..but i reminded her that I’m a scorpio…and she smailed and said it’s ok, i still love you despite that flaw !!! :-}
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
I gave the guy an “A”. For me B = Expectations met. I think he exceded my expectations. 21 pts is pretty strong for a 4th line guy, and as you said more than double C. Adams. Solid on the PK, on the plus side of the ledger on a bad team, more than willing to lose a fight, physical, hard worker, with a couple of shorties. If he were a -2 with 11 total points, and no shorties then he’d been a B. Montreal fans said we’d love him, and they were right.
I also gave TKO an A. Expectations met and exceeded. Not the best fighter but continued to drop the gloves no matter what. Very physical type player and still managed 82 games, not a simple task. A quality team player than can be counted on to show up every shift and give his all. TKO is all guts and grit just what we need with the other “pretty boy” forwards.
by max creek on Jul 24, 2010 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Met expectations + extra credit projects = A
Some of the details of why I awarded Kostopoulos an A for the season are within this end-of-the-season post:
Tom Kostopoulos
Coincidental that we have a Kostopoulos-related Fans Want to Know thread initiated today, but I was intent on giving Tom some love this morning before that thread ever began.
Here’s a guy that has quietly come in and (no jinx) is the only player on the roster to have skated all 80 games to date.
In addition, he’s among a small group of only 3 players on the roster that was with us on Opening Night that has a positive plus/minus at +4 (Staal also at +4 and Jokinen at +5 being the other two), despite being relegated to the "Group W" fourth line for much of the season.
He’s sandwiched at ninth between LaRose and Brind’Amour for points (8-12-20) and is also ninth for shots on goal (100).
And, although I’m not sure I’ve seen him "win" a fight, he’s always ready to do that honorable thing for the team and take one when needed, leading the team with 106 PIM’s (next is Gleason with 78 PIM’s).
And we got all of this performance for a mere $700K this season, with him being under contract for two more years ($0.95M / $1.1M).
Good pickup, JR. Welcome to the Canes, Mr. Kostopoulos (and, at least we’ve learned to spell your name correctly :-D).
by Elsker on Apr 7, 2010 12:56 PM EDT
On an iffy team and buried on a throwaway spare-parts line, Tom Kostopoulos delivered a start-to-finish as-advertised performance, with little help from his surrounds.
‘08-’09 Montreal season: 8-14-22 (78 games)
‘09-’10 Carolina season: 8-13-21 (82 games)
However, he also provided the “sure, I’ll fight” component, carded a +4, and worked for only $700K. Plus, I cannot think of a single game in which I would have noted, “well, Kostopoulos is dogging it tonight”.
Solid no-drama performance, good numbers on a bad team while on a bad line, took a licking but kept on ticking, only player to make all 82 games despite a rare physical game approach.
I paused at the B+++ threshold. But all those extra credits carried the day.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
MY kind of player...
With the type of effort he gives, he’s a KEEPER!!
Cool.
With all that praise and admiration, for next season, do you see him, with his defensive strengths, moved up to play 3rd line with Nash or Dalpe at center?
Twitter @HMof2
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 24, 2010 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Something I should have added to the list of extra credit considerations is that he’s like having a spare tire on the ice.
Lose a forward mid-game? Tom Kostopoulos can easily slot into the third line, as whoever is there gets field-promoted upward to wherever the blowout occurred. Can even handle spot duty above.
Without checking records, my memory is of him excelling when given better linemates than was his lot on the fourth line last season. Defensively responsible, he does not embarass and has earned Mo’s confidence.
Yes, I could easily see him handling a third-line role, especially in our system. Might even could be a direct field-promotion onto Sutter’s line for an injured winger, considering his defensive responsibility and that line’s checking role.
However, looking at the wealth of talent, I’m not sure I see room for him in the top 9, except to plug a hole.
That’s a good thing, actually. We don’t want to over-slot. And, for once, we’re getting the depth not to do so in the bottom 9 forwards, at least.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
No way I see Sutter on the third line next season.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 25, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Of course not. I was saying that Kostopoulos, with his defensive responsibility, could easily handle a field promotion not only up to the third line, but because of the checking nature of Sutter’s second line, up two ranks, if needed.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Kostopoulos
Jumping in to the discussion, I think the lines are all going to be fluid and we’ll all need a program to figure out period by period who is on what line. I doubt Kostopoulos is moved up to the third line other than against some very big, physical teams, where we try to match up a little better going size for size or temporarily due to injuries.
Kostopoulos does everything and more that the organization and coaches ask of him; barring a rash of injuries, it seems unlikely that with the wealth of talent the Hurricanes have at forward Kostopoulos is consistently moved up from the fourth line. Kostopoulos will be a mainstay of the penalty kill, I think.
wait!
AD, weren’t you calling for TKO to be traded or otherwise relegated to open up space for the kids?
This article makes an excellent point. TKO is the kind of role player that teams must have to win. He can’t be replaced by one of the younger skilled players yet, unless Bowman ends up being a great checker but not much else. I can see Samson and Dwyer turning into TKO style guys in another year or two.
Kostopoulos
I don’t see anything contradictory about appreciating what Kostopoulos brings to a team and concluding that he will be traded. I like Kostopoulos and think he uses all the talent he has and gives it all every shift. I also think the Hurricanes have too many more talented younger players to hold them back or trade them in order to keep Kostopoulos. To the same degree that Cullen was a fine player, but was traded, I see Kostopoulos and Samsonov as players who probably are going to be traded.
As the quality of the players in the system continues to improve, there will be increasingly difficult decisions about which veterans to keep and which veterans to move for draft choices or prospects. As much as I like Kostopoulos, I think he and Samsonov are the two most easily replaced forward veterans. It will be interesting to see if Cole is traded at the trade deadline. I think if he stays healthy and is on pace for a 20 goal season or more, he will be re-signed.
With regard to Bowman, I personally think he has gotten the picture that if he increases the physicality of his game, he gets to the NHL sooner. Kostopoulos is a grinding, gutsy player, but he is not Ruutu in terms of his hitting velocity. There is no reason why Bowman can’t add grit to his game and earn a spot.
I have to say, as biased as you are toward youth, any youth, over experience, you do show a lot of Cole love.
Especially when it is actually Cole that blocks Bowman’s path to the top nine, where he belongs, not Kostopoulos. Therefore, it is far more likely that it will be Cole’s turn to be traded (or retire/move onward) that will come before Kostopoulos, because of that pressure from below.
And yes, except for those that retire Canes, it is fate of them all to be traded when their time comes.
But, with due respect, someone’s going to have to take that fourth line right wing role from Kostopoulos, and it won’t be Bowman. He’s eyeing Cole.
It’s Samson that wants, and may eventually get, the Kostopoulos role, if anyone. And he’s a worthy candidate for that role.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Cole Versus Bowman
I think Bowman could well take Cole’s roster spot and make Cole a trade prospect. It all depends on how Bowman’s development goes and whether Cole stays healthy. I am relying on not only what I see when watching games, but also what I’ve heard on the record from Jim Rutherford and Paul Maurice about the need for speed. Cole does bring speed and size. He also has a history of significant injuries. The reason I put Cole toward the back of the list of veterans likely to be traded is because he has both speed and size. Cole to a large degree holds his fate in his own hands. If he comes out of the gates on fire and stays healthy, it strikes me as more likely he will be re-signed. If he is healthy, but is not playing inspired hockey, I think he will be traded due to his salary. He’ll have to produce 20 goals or more, along with his physical play, to stick with the team. Additionally, even if Cole is playing well, Bowman could still demonstrate he will take Cole’s place on the wing. Bowman will also have plenty of competition for the wing, including competition from Dalpe, Skinner, and Osala.
A
He fits (and filled) his role perfectly this season and a good team has good role-players. The money is good for a bottom-6 guy, too. He’d be a great fit on a 3rd line if they decide to go with a good physical checking/defensive line.
A-
Didn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s not supposed to. As a 4th liner, he’s supposed to be gritty, rugged, and provide energy. And he did. He’s willing to protect teammates, although his fighting… well nevermind. Good addition though.
Hockey is my oxygen, football is my food, and baseball is my water. I'd say basketball is my shelter, but I'd rather not lie.
A
If every Canes’ forward performed his role as well as TK performs his, the Canes would be a vastly better team. Some other players seemed to falter after the team had a disastrous start. Kostopoulos never missed a beat.
Besides excelling at his role, Kostopoulos took on a role that shouldn’t be his and that he can’t possibly want: designated fighter.
I’d give his role a B in value, but his performance of the role an A, with extra credit for taking on undesirable extra jobs.
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 26, 2010 5:47 PM EDT reply actions
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